"We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving."
-- Kingsley Shacklebolt

Harry becomes obsessed with the Hallows, particularly the Stone (which he realizes is hidden inside the Snitch that Dumbledore left him). Ron takes over the hunt for Horcruxes. Then Ron finally manages to pick up a Potterwatch broadcast, from which HRH learn that Voldemort is out of the country – and Harry deduces that Voldemort is looking for the Elder Wand. Harry then accidentally says Voldemort’s name aloud, which breaks their protective enchantments, betraying their whereabouts to a gang of Snatchers.

Calendar and Dates

Begins immediately after the previous chapter and on the same day. The action then sprawls over the next several weeks without being very specific, until Ron finally tunes in Potterwatch sometime in March.

Interesting facts and notes

through the whole week

That brings us past New Year's Day into early 1998.

as the weeks crept on

Which brings us into late January 1998 and beyond.

But not until March did luck favour Ron at last.

Which means it's been over eight weeks since their visit to the Lovegoods' house. Ron's eighteenth birthday was on the first of March (HBP18), by the way.

'"River", that's Lee

As in "River Jordan".

'Romulus'

In Roman legend, Romulus was the founder of Rome, one of a pair of twin boys who had been abandoned as babies and raised by a wolf. The other twin was named Remus. :)

Exceptional character moments

Harry's growing obsession with the Resurrection Stone, and the possibility that the three united Hallows might let him survive his final confrontation with Voldemort.

The crew at Potterwatch - their respect for the fallen, their exhortations to be careful, and their cheerful mockery of the Death Eaters.

Memorable lines

"He's my ancestor! I'm descended from the third brother! It all makes sense!"

"Support Harry Potter" parties are unwise in the present climate.'

'Mind you, if all the alleged sightings of him are genuine, we must have a good nineteen You-Know-Whos running around the place.'

'So people, let's try and calm down a bit. Things are bad enough without inventing stuff as well. For instance, this new idea that You-Know-Who can kill with a single glance from his eyes. That's a basilisk, listeners. One simple test: check whether the thing that's glaring at you has got legs. If it has, it's safe to look into its eyes, although if it really is You-Know-Who, that's likely to be the last thing you ever do.'

"Well, who wouldn't want a nice little holiday after all the hard work he's been putting in?"

"Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but the fact remains he can move faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo"